Line-casting machine.



P. T. DODGE.

LINE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.28,1911.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

v P. T. DODGE.

LlNE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED B11028. 1911.

LQ'WLJOfi, Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

P. T. DODGE.

LINE CASTING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED D120. 28, 1011.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED srarns PATENT- orricn.

PHILIP T. DODGE, 0F W'ASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNQR TO MERGEN- THALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION. OF NEW YORK.v

LINE-CASTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHJLIP T. Donor), a citizen of the United States; and a. resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented 'a new and useful Improvement in Line-Casting Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to line casting machines of the lVIergenthaler type, and kindred machines, in which type bars or slugs are formed in a mold by molten metal delivered from a melting pot provided with a pump mechanism, as shown, for example, in Letters Patent of the United. States No. 436,532. In the operation of these machines it highly important to maintain a substam tially uniforl'n temperature of the molten metal; and to this end, and for other reasons, it is desirable to maintain the molten metal in the pot at a substantially uniform level by the introduction of solid metalv at short intervals. Various mechanisms have been devised for feeding solid and molten metal to the pot automatically, but owing to the fact that the rate of consumption is frequently varied by change in the size of the slugs produccd, these mechanisms have failed to give satisfaction. In order to secure satisfactory results under all conditions it is desirable to have the supply of the metal to the pot under the control of the operator, seated at the keyboard at the front of the machine. Up to the time of my invention it was the general practice for the operator to introduce metal by hand from time to time, as required, low level of the metal being automatically indicated by an alarm bell. Owing however to the fact that the metal pot is at the rear side of the machine, while the operator is seated at the front, at a point far distant from the pot, it was necessary that the operator rise from his seat and pass behind the machine each time metal was to be introduced. This operation involved not only additional labor, but frequent interruption of his work, and a great loss in the out put of the machine.

The object of my invention is to overcome these ditliculties, and enablc the operator to replenish the pot with metal from time to time, as required, without moving from his seat, and without appreciable interruption of the composing o ;)cration.

To this end my invention consists, broadly. in combining with a line casting machine means for supplying metal to the put, such Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filedDecemher 2B, 1911-.

Patented Sept. 30, 191 3.v

Serial No. 668,227.

means being controllable by the operator seated at the keyboard.

The mechanism for carrying my invention into effect may be constructed in a great variety of forms, which will occur tothc skilled mechanic after consideration of this specification, but I have shown in the drawings those forms which I believe best adapted for use under ordinary conditions.

lVhilc I prefer to operate the metal delivering devices by means of a handle or other manual device at the front of the machine, it is to be understood that they may be operated mechani'ally, and the manual device employed simply to throw them into action.

lVith the exception of the parts herein specifically described, the machine may he of any ordinary or approved construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section from front to rear through the melting pot and adjacent parts of a con'unercial l\[ergenthalcr machine having my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, the metal holder being shown in horizontal section, on a plane just above the melting pot. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the parts shown in the preceding figures, on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the pigs. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of alternative constructions. it

Referring to the drawings, A A. represent portions of the frame work of the machine; B the melting pot, having its supporting legs mounted on a horizontal shaft, 6, that it may swing forward and backward to and from the mold C. The pot is constructed with a throat or mouth 7), and with a pump plunger 1) by which the molten metal is delivered through the throat into the mold C, when the mouth of the pot is closed against the latter. All of these parts are constructed and arranged to operate in the uualmanner, and are foreign to my invention.

In carrying my invention into etl'ect l secure to the machine, in any suitable manner, an upright magazine or holder, D. to contain pigs of type metal I). This holder may consist of an upright tube or frame of any suitable construction, provided it is adapted to .receivc'and hold pigs stacked one upon another. At the. lower end of this magazine I provide means controllable from the front of the machine for discharging the pigs one at a time, in order that they may fall into the molten metal in the pot below. 

